中國成語寓言故事142:Prudent Reserve Between Men and Women男女有別(雙語)
A man named Fu Xian was fond of reading books. Though proficient in literature and etiquette, he was stubbornly adherent to outworn rules. Being impractical and dull, he looked just like an old pedant.
有個叫傅顯的人喜歡讀書。他對文章禮儀也很精通，只是性情遷腐遲鈍，看上去就像個老學究。
One day, Fu Xian strolled on the street with measured strides and asked whomever he met:
一天，傅顯踱著四方步上街，見人就問:
"Have you seen Wei San?"
“看見魏三了嗎?”
Someone pointed to the direction and he walked on unhurriedly with measured strides. When he saw Wei San, he panted for a while, then said:
有人給他指點方向，他就踱著方步走去。等見到魏三，他喘了幾口氣之后才說:
"I just saw your wife doing needlework under a tree. She was tired and taking a nap. Your child was playing beside a well, only 3 to 5 chi away from it. It seemed to me that some accident might happen. As there is prudent reserve between men and women, it was not convenient for me to awaken your wife in person. That's why I have come all the way here to tell you."
“我剛才看見三嫂，她在樹下做針線活兒，疲倦了，就在那兒打噸。您家的小孩兒，在水井旁邊玩耍，離井口不過三五尺遠，看上去好像要出事。因為男女有別，不便直接叫醒三嫂，所以特地跑來告訴你。”
Upon hearing this, Wei San was panic-stricken and hurried home. When he got home, his wife was bending over the well, wailing bitterly for their son.
魏三聽了，驚恐萬分，急忙跑回家去。等他趕到家，他的妻子已經趴在井口，在痛哭自己的兒子了!
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